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Curd Jacked at 265 lbs?! Down 133 lbs overall

discipline destiny
 
It’s been a busy summer!
But it’s also been one of the best summers of my life.
Following the 4 daily non-negotiables we teach in the Iron Will Reboot program has been vital to me at this point in my life:
  • In a pandemic,
  • While working on my transformation – now down 133 lbs,
  • While rebuilding my brand and business during these crazy times.
Curd Hos lost 133 lbs
Some cool shit I did this summer
  • Finally got a Blue Jays weekend in with my wife,
  • Went to an outdoor SPA where I walked around with no shirt on in public,
  • Ran a powerlifting meet – the first in almost 2 years due to covid!
Working with more clients than ever
  • Transformations
  • Personal Training
  • Life Coaching
Being able to have great purpose and impact on people’s lives is my true happy place!
Lots of great things are on the horizon!
But make no mistake, I still have lots of work to do.
The Heroic Journey of “me” is far from complete.
There are still hurdles.
There are still times of self-doubt and the Imposter Syndrome to deal with!
My Mindset work continues…
The most important “Boundary” or “Standard” I have set for myself is
putting myself first!
Not in a make-myself-feel-good-all-the-time kind of way.
It’s not, Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll/never let myself feel anything but euphoric all the time/putting myself first behavior.
It’s the very opposite
It’s:
  • Workout twice a day,
  • Mindset work,
  • Set goals and complete tasks,
  • Food mastery,
  • Self-discipline.

It’s suffering daily to make this new amazing reality even better!

It’s about delayed gratification so that the true rewards will be even greater and permanent down the line.
Discipline – Determines – Destiny
There is much satisfaction in working hard and feeling accomplished.
I’m blessed to have this grind for success before me!
I have come an incredibly long way – but there is so much more to do!
Am I tired at times?
Yup, who isn’t tried at times. But now it’s with a reason and a purpose!
I monitor my energy daily and adjust activities and give myself more room to recharge as needed, GUILT FREE (lol .. well fewer feelings of guilt as I see how it empowers me to keep going!!)
I have never been more:
Happy,
Excited, and
Passionate!
I wake up each day ready!
It’s been a very good summer!
2021 – 2022 Personal Objectives
  • 240 lbs body-weight
  • Skydive
  • Wing Walking
Curd

Struggle-Persevere-Succeed-Inspire

Ready to make a Transformation?

The Iron Will 28-Day Reboot is a four-week, step-by-step weight loss transformation program for men & women 35 & over, that includes a clean meal plan, personalized supplementation, fat-burning & body-changing workouts, and daily inspiration to help you feel STRONG & CONFIDENT, look AMAZING, and have much more ENERGY to do the things you really want to do!

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2500 days …

Interesting number.

That’s:

6.85 years
83 ish months
357 weeks

60,000 hours
3,600,000 minutes
216,000,000 seconds

Curd Hos Iron Hos GEar

I recently hit the milestone of 2500 days being sober.

One of my greatest achievements.

One of the hardest things I have ever done.

Life-changing.

Somedays that first day seems like yesterday.

Most days it feels like a lifetime ago.

Many days it was the only thing I was able to accomplish amidst the chaos and hurt that was my life at the time.

I held onto that like a fucking life preserver. Like I was lost at sea with the waves of life; stress and the desperate desire for change smashing me about.

Now those seas are much calmer.

But I’m always ready for the next storm.

There will always be storms.

I’ve accomplished a lot since those 2500 days began.

But I still track and write down that growing number EVERY DAY in my journal.

It’s like the odometer of my life with a newly rebuilt engine dropped in my favorite ride.

I love looking at that number!

The first day was the scariest and most important one of all.

It’s also the magic that I celebrate every new day added to the total!

Struggle-Persevere-Succeed-Inspire

Ready to make a Transformation?

The Iron Will 28-Day Reboot is a four-week, step-by-step weight loss transformation program for men & women 35 & over, that includes a clean meal plan, personalized supplementation, fat-burning & body-changing workouts, and daily inspiration to help you feel STRONG & CONFIDENT, look AMAZING, and have much more ENERGY to do the things you really want to do!

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Opinions are like Assholes…

Opinions are like assholes – everyone has one.

Maybe a more mature and sophisticated title would be:

Tips on Getting Advice

But let’s be fucking real – I ain’t none too mature or sophisticated.

With my transformation into the superhero version of me, there have been many people watching and paying attention.

Some want me to succeed.

Some want me to fail.

Many don’t give a fuck either way (that’s cool too  – as I am doing this ultimately for me and nothing or no one else).

Many reach out to say how they are inspired.

Many reach out asking for help with coaching, training, and nutrition.

And a few have reached out to offer their advice.

Now, not all advice is bad.

But, not all advice is good.

Many times it’s unsolicited… but in some cases, I have indeed asked for it.

The key here is to learn how to decipher what to listen to.

When to just smile and ignore it,

or

When to act upon it or look deeper into the information provided.

Just the other day I read something from the Daily Stoic that ended up being very true and quite timely.

“When it comes to taking advice, it should come from someone who has run his own business, taken real risks, made it to the top and bottom of a few fields, worked on an important project, gotten his hands dirty, has had skin in the game.”

Advice without that perspective is advice from someone who just wants to give advice.

Advice from someone who sits protected from the reality of the world—cushioned from consequences, in charge of nothing but books, pens, and paper—is worthless.

Read that last paragraph again.

As you, or I, or anyone embarks on change and the pursuit of our dreams and passions, hold people’s advice to the highest scrutiny.

Your dad may love you, but he may not know shit about what you’re trying to achieve.

Your buddy on the bar stool is probably all-knowing – while he’s never done any of the actual doing.

Take advice from people who have done what you want to do.

Seek out knowledge from people doing those same things at even higher levels.

Invest your resources with the people who have proven and have done what you are trying or wishing to achieve.

Struggle-Persevere-Succeed-Inspire

Ready to make a Transformation?

The Iron Will 28-Day Reboot is a four-week, step-by-step weight loss transformation program for men & women 35 & over, that includes a clean meal plan, personalized supplementation, fat-burning & body-changing workouts, and daily inspiration to help you feel STRONG & CONFIDENT, look AMAZING, and have much more ENERGY to do the things you really want to do!

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Thirty-Six years later…

Thirty-six years ago I saw my first image of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I knew right then and there I wanted to be a bodybuilder.

I was 18.

I joined a gym.

I trained.

But I never followed through on competing.

I always dreamt of it.

Along the way, I became a pretty damned good bencher.

Competed lots.

Set some records.

But still, in the back of my mind, I wanted to be a bodybuilder.

But I let:

  • Fear
  • Self-doubt
  • Laziness
  • Life

Basically, any fucking excuse got in my way.

But still, I knew I wanted this and it was part of my truth that I had denied for almost four DECADES.

Weight Loss Journey

About eighteen months ago I began a journey to lose weight.

I was 398 lbs.

Now I’m in the 270’s.

HOWEVER, I have been sitting at this mark for 3 months.

Knowing that my goal was 240 lbs.

Stuck in a weird cycle of pretty damned good success…

…but stuck all the same.

Stuck in Fear

This past weekend I did some reflection and I realized I was stuck in fear.

I knew what the next step was.

I have been talking about it for months.

I had been dreaming about it for 37 years!

It’s even in my personal objectives for 2021 – 2022 that I list on my FB posts now:

“Compete in my first Bodybuilding show”

So last night after my workout,

I came home,

And finally pulled the trigger.

I registered for the November 20th Ottawa Bodybuilding show.

I’m pumped!

I’m scared fuckin shitless!

I’m ALIVE!!

Personal Objectives 2021-2022

  • 240 lbs body weight
  • Skydiving
  • Wing Walking
  • Bodybuilding show < oh it’s on motherfucker !!

Struggle-Persevere-Succeed-Inspire

Ready to make a Transformation?

The Iron Will 28-Day Reboot is a four-week, step-by-step weight loss transformation program for men & women 35 & over, that includes a clean meal plan, personalized supplementation, fat-burning & body-changing workouts, and daily inspiration to help you feel STRONG & CONFIDENT, look AMAZING, and have much more ENERGY to do the things you really want to do!

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I Fucking Hope You’re Struggling Right Now!

You’ve been hit hard?

Life got you down?

Covid affected your job or business?

Are you overweight, broken, depressed, lonely?

Good ….

Fucking GOOD!

The struggle you’re currently facing is an opportunity.

It’s a test designed to make you stronger.

To force much-needed change.

You know you need to lose weight.

You probably didn’t like that job or career anyway.

Maybe you knew your business had to change? (this one was very tough for me – but so damned true)

Ask anyone who has recovered from adversity – addiction – heartache.

Hitting their bottom was necessary for them ( for me) to finally get better, make changes, get clean, get sober.

When you’ve finally had enough of being overweight & broken, lonely, or broke, you end up doing something about it.

For things to get better – they have to suck ass at first.

A life without adversity has no chance to blossom.

I wouldn’t be in the best shape of my life at 53 if I hadn’t finally braved the struggle of being almost 400 lbs – obese – an alcoholic, and had multiple failed businesses.

The incredible rewarding and purpose-driven life I am creating and the business brands of Iron Hos Gear and The Iron Will Program could never have been created had I not struggled through the adversity of past failures.

From the clouds of pain and uncertainty came the clarity and light of my true passion and purpose.

To help 100,000 men and women transform their own lives and become the very best versions of themselves.

Struggling and persevering through my own bottoms and failures has created this amazing new reality.

My epic journey has and continues to forge the incredible life of happiness and purpose that I have always wanted.

I needed the challenge.

I needed the pain.

The suffering is what finally drove me to:

  • Struggle
  • Persevere
  • Succeed
  • Inspire.

My journey is far from over. There will be more:

  • Pain
  • Struggles
  • Challenges

But I now know they are a gift and the crucible through which I must pass to fulfill my destiny and help others along the way.

Whatever your struggle is, it’s your chance at real happiness and purpose.

A life well lived needs adversity.

It wants challenge.

Rise to it!

This is your invitation to become better, become stronger, become wiser.

This is your chance to create your own Iron Will.

Be grateful for your struggle.

Now pick yourself up and let’s fucking go!

Curd “Iron” Hos

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Ready to make a Transformation?

The Iron Will 28-Day Reboot is a four-week, step-by-step weight loss transformation program for men & women 35 & over, that includes a clean meal plan, personalized supplementation, fat-burning & body-changing workouts, and daily inspiration to help you feel STRONG & CONFIDENT, look AMAZING, and have much more ENERGY to do the things you really want to do!

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Demon Control

A few weeks ago I posted on Facebook about a couple of lessons that I learned while out on my daily power walk.

First, it was hot as balls.

31 degrees Celsius–36 degrees with the humid-ex–and I did a 5 km walk.

Homero Se Olvida De Buscar ABart YSe Pudre Melting GIF from Homeroseolvidadebuscarabartysepudre GIFs


It was Hot. as. Fuck. ( I have to mention that again)

It was one of those days that I found myself not in the best frame of mind.

I was feeling very impatient and over-sensitive (big baby mode). Things were just rubbing me the wrong way.

As exercise is one of my 4 daily non-negotiables, this walk was getting done.

No. Matter. What.

I headed down to one of my regular walking areas and set out to hit 5 k.

I really wasn’t pumped for the walk, and on top of that, it was HOT (yup 3rd time I mention it – cause it was damned hot!!)

As the walk progressed I focused on just moving and breathing.

Then I started to take in the sights around me.

As I walked along I could feel my impatience giving way.

I began to think more freely and I was breathing deeper and calmer. The heat and steady movement was seeing to that.

I just let myself go as I walked.

By halfway through the walk I physically felt much better.

By the end of the walk, I was sweating profusely and I felt 1000% better.

My mind was clearer, the burden from earlier in the day was lifted.

It wasn’t until the end of the walk as I was sitting on a bench that I realized just how much the Demons in my head had been running rampant.

As I said earlier–with the mood I was in–I wasn’t motivated or looking forward to that walk.

But it was one of my daily non-negotiables

And daily non-negotiables GET DONE!

That’s why they are so important and damned effective.

The 4 daily non-negotiables just pull us along towards progress and results even when we don’t want to.

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Ready to make a Transformation?

The Iron Will 28-Day Reboot is a four-week, step-by-step weight loss transformation program for men & women 35 & over, that includes a clean meal plan, personalized supplementation, fat-burning & body-changing workouts, and daily inspiration to help you feel STRONG & CONFIDENT, look AMAZING, and have much more ENERGY to do the things you really want to do!

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My New Doctor was Blown Away

Last week I set up an appointment to meet my new family doctor.

I was very keen on having a doctor who was a little older, a little more seasoned – someone who hopefully could relate to me more.

Yet someone young enough–or at least be more proactive–when it comes to staying up on current protocols and trends in healthcare. In my case specifically, it means regularly conducting blood tests for hormone levels, and kidney and liver function.

The fact that he is also closer to my age is important to me, as I feel he can better relate to issues of being 50ish and wanting to live a full and exciting life going forward.

Sitting down to meet him, I spoke openly about what I wanted from him as a doctor and he was able to explain to me what type of patient he prefers working with.

I really liked this!

We both knew what we wanted going into this. So we would soon see if we were a “fit” or not.

I had brought my last 3 blood tests with me in a file ( yes like Dalton from Roadhouse .. lol)

So he could see what was happening with my system on the inside.

Weight Loss Transformation

But it’s when I showed him my latest transformation progress pics, that he actually went quiet for a moment!

The first pic is of me at 398 lbs – the middle pic at 335 lbs – and the last at 275 lbs last week (May 2021).

He then said he couldn’t believe it was the same guy in the picture sitting across from him now!

The fact that the transformation occurred over just the last 18 months further impressed him.

I explained to him that I want to be in control of my health and that I needed a doctor in my corner that would look to be on my team.

I want guidance and advice – not objections to me wanting regular blood tests to monitor my hormone levels and other organ function, as I embark further into my Heroic Transformation.

He loved it and said he wished all his patients cared as much about their own health to this level.

I also could tell he wasn’t afraid to voice his opinion or concerns either about some of the subjects we discussed – telling me what I need to hear, not what he thought I might want to hear.

I can’t begin to tell you how much this means to me to have another piece of the puzzle in place!

All part of my…

…240 lbs – Skydiving – Wing-Walking next phase that I’m embarking on!

Wait, have I talked about the Wing-Walking yet?

That’s happening!!

Struggle – Persevere – Succeed – Inspire

Ready to make a Transformation?

The Iron Will 28-Day Reboot is a four-week, step-by-step weight loss transformation program for men & women 35 & over, that includes a clean meal plan, personalized supplementation, fat-burning & body-changing workouts, and daily inspiration to help you feel STRONG & CONFIDENT, look AMAZING, and have much more ENERGY to do the things you really want to do!

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To some you will be a Hero – to others a Villain

When we decide to make huge changes in our lives, we expect there to be many positives. But we also know to expect some problems along the way.

Positives

  • we will feel better,
  • lose weight,
  • get stronger,
  • feel more confident,

Problems

  • it’s gonna be hard at first,
  • we’re going to get tired at times,
  • we can feel lost and overwhelmed.

The Unexpected

Then there is the stuff we don’t expect.

How many people will be inspired by our progress?

How many people will have a problem with our progress?

Even stranger…

The people who know us the least will be the ones most inspired.

The people closest to us are some of the ones who will have the biggest issues with what we are doing.

it’s kinda fucked up – at first

Soon though it will just be part of the journey, part of the experiences you will have along the way to becoming the very best version of yourself.

It’s part of the price of success and change.

Just last week…within the space of 24 hours,

I received two very different messages.

First – I was told that I had become “self-absorbed” and I was a poor communicator.

Second – literally 24 hours later I was sent this message…

“I’m not sure you know how many lives you’ve touched… your name has come up a number of times. You are doing great work!”

Talk about diametrically opposed messages!!

I’d like to say that the negative message didn’t bother me. But I’m human, so it did. At first.

The old me would have really spent a lot of time spinning on that negative message.

Instead, I looked at the positive message harder – deeper.

In the end I came up with this…

To some you will be a Hero – to others you will be a Villain.

Venom – Hero to some Villain to others

When I sat and thought about the messages even further, I realized both messages were actually very true.

I have become more self-absorbed!

I put my health – my mindset – fitness – my transformation, first above all else and everyone else.

But that type of self-absorbed has also inspired hundreds, maybe even thousands at this point, and will only continue to grow.

My transformation journey is allowing me to lead and help so many more people.

The more self-absorbed I am becoming, the more I have to offer and give to others!

The “Self Absorbed – Hero – Villain ” me…

…Is happier,

Is stronger Mentally and Physically,

IS a better man – husband -father – business partner – leader – friend.

BUT don’t worry, there’s still lots of room for improvement in all areas too.

Self-Absorbed or Inspiration as seen by others is just that – how others see me based on what’s happening in their hearts and minds.

The big difference is what I believe about myself – what my definition of self-absorbed is.

Yes, I am both a Hero and a Villain.

It’s the only way we can improve and move forward.

I accept it.

There is a time and a place for both

Be ready!

 

Struggle – Persevere – Succeed – Inspire

Ready to make a Transformation?

The Iron Will 28-Day Reboot is a four-week, step-by-step transformation program for men & women 35 & over, that includes a clean meal plan, personalized supplementation, fat-burning & body-changing workouts, and daily inspiration to help you feel STRONG & CONFIDENT, look AMAZING and have much more ENERGY to do the things you really want to do!

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If You are Serious, Write shit down Episode 177

This is the low hanging fruit that you can easily grab and start making a change today!

It starts with writing things down, your goals – your dreams – your action plan

Writing things down encourages daily progress

Before anyone tries to improve themselves, their thoughts, or their actions, the first step should always be to evaluate their past and current situation.

By writing things down, you’d have a record of what you did, thought of, and acted on so this helps you reflect on what worked and what didn’t. You can gauge your strengths and weaknesses and identify how you spend your time and energy.

 

 

 

I have always said, my very best training happens when I write everything down in my training journal.

My mind takes it more serious – my body takes it more serious

I have a way of making sure I continue to push and progress

Some days – I feel like dog shit and really don’t want to think about training – but with a workout that’s written down – I just work on getting it done

1 line – 1 exercise – 1 set at at time..

In no time flat workout is done

Mind and Body are in a much different place due to adrenaline and endorphins

Best of all – I didn’t skip and I kept myself accountable

Always being pulled forward – Not even I can get in my own way that way.

 

Struggle

Persevere

Succeed

Inspire

 

Curd

Ready to make a Transformation?

The Iron Will 28-Day Reboot is a four-week, step-by-step transformation program for men & women 35 & over, that includes a clean meal plan, personalized supplementation, fat-burning & body-changing workouts, and daily inspiration to help you feel STRONG & CONFIDENT, look AMAZING and have much more ENERGY to do the things you really want to do!

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You’re wearing your shirts too tight!

curd arms barbell curl

This is a message that was sent to me last night after I posted this picture just after I finished my back and biceps workout.

“You’re wearing your shirts too tight…”

I shit you not. And this person who has been a Facebook friend and lifter for years – was serious!

Initially, I responded with “LoL” truly believing he was busting my balls for fun – as a lot of us guys do.

Then he came back with, “No man, I’m being totally serious!.. In fact, a lot of people are laughing at you behind your back!”

I wasn’t surprised–OK, maybe a little from who this was coming from–but not surprised about the comments.

I just responded with “Hey I get it, probably the same people who laughed at me when I was almost 400 lbs and my shirts were even tighter – just around my gut instead of the chest and arms.”

He went quiet after that, the conversation was done.

The truth is, there will be people in your life who will have a problem with you when you start to succeed.

They will have something shitty to say or they won’t comment at all when you post something showing the progress you’re making (funny because they will comment or “like” your post about kittens in a tree you shared the day before)!

When someone uses the empirical statistical number of “a lot of people” that’s just more bullshit being made up to try and make their negative opinion seem more legit.

But that’s how this goes

First off, we shouldn’t be doing anything in our lives for any else’s approval.

But, we are still human after all, and a negative comment can sting a little–or a lot–depending on where you are on the self-confidence scale. 

When people say they have a problem with what you’re doing in regards to your transformation goals, life achievements, etc, they are really demonstrating that the problem is with their own internal dialogue and feelings. 

It’s really not about you, at all.

One of the very first things I talk about with my new transformation clients is exactly this issue.

There will be people who do not want you to succeed.

They feel it reflects poorly on them, this is an internal reaction they have because they aren’t happy with themselves.

It’s just easier to point those feelings outward on you – rather than inward on themselves.

But there will also be people in your corner.

You also need to be aware that when someone does say something positive, that’s something you should really appreciate.

Use that as positive reinforcement, but don’t rely on it. 

As I said before, you should be working on these transformational life changes for you, and for you only.

After all it ONLY matters what you think and believe about yourself.

For me…

I really just take all this negativity as a compliment.

And…

I’m expecting a shit ton more of these “compliments” as I keep evolving and continue to create the superhero version of myself!

Ready to make a Transformation?

The Iron Will 28-Day Reboot is a four-week, step-by-step transformation program for men & women 35 & over, that includes a clean meal plan, personalized supplementation, fat-burning & body-changing workouts, and daily inspiration to help you feel STRONG & CONFIDENT, look AMAZING and have much more ENERGY to do the things you really want to do!